Department for Transport

Rolling Stock: Standards

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the required service and quality standards for rolling stock for local commuter and medium-distance services; what is the extent to which Class 150 diesel multiple units meet those standards; and what is the estimatedcontinued lifespan ofsuch units.

baroness vere of norbiton: As part of the franchise bidding process, operators must ensure that their rolling stock provides a level of passenger comfort and amenity that is identified by stakeholders, including such things as an appropriate mix of tables, at seat power, appropriate luggage space and door configurations. It is a matter for operators of Class 150 units to ensure that they meet relevant franchise commitments and for their owners to determine their lifespan.

Aviation: Coronavirus

lord mann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what restrictions are being placed on international air passengers transiting through UK airports.

baroness vere of norbiton: Transit passengers need to complete a passenger locator form with their journey and contact details. If they remain airside (do not pass border control) they do not need to self-isolate. However, if transit passengers pass through border control they must self-isolate for 14-days.The regulations permit departure from England within 14 days of arrival.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Public Health: Coronavirus

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether some sectors will be harmed more than others by the COVID-19 pandemic; and what associated measures they have taken to support public health in those sectors.

lord callanan: The Office for National Statistics reports that 82% of businesses that responded to its latest COVID-19 business impacts survey stated that they were continuing to trade between 4 May and 17 May 2020; while 18% reported they had temporarily closed or paused trading. Of the sectors that the Office for National Statistics’ survey covered, the ‘arts, entertainment and recreation’ and ‘accommodation and food service activities’ sectors had the largest proportion of businesses who were not currently trading. We recognise the challenges faced by businesses across the country at this challenging time, which is why we have made a significant package of support available to businesses, including:grants such as through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHGLF) and the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) available to eligible businessesgovernment-backed loans through schemes such as the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to furlough workers, which will continue in its current form until 31 July and then in a more flexible form from August until 31 Octobera business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses for the 2020 to 2021 tax yearthe option to defer VAT payments due between 20 March and 30 June until 31 March 2021  In addition, the Government has issued practical guidelines to make workplaces safe, and to give those people who cannot work from home during the coronavirus pandemic, confidence to go back to work. This guidance covers eight workplace settings, from outdoor environments and construction sites to factories and takeaways, which are allowed to be open.

Catering: Industry

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support the British curry industry.

lord callanan: There is a significant package of support currently available to businesses in restaurant and takeaway sectors. These include:grants such as through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHGLF) and the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) available to eligible businessesgovernment-backed loans through schemes such as the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to furlough workers, which will continue in its current form until 31 July and then in a more flexible form from August until 31 Octobera business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses for the 2020 to 2021 tax yearthe option to defer VAT payments due between 20 March and 30 June until 31 March 2021 In order to support businesses wishing to remain open, the Government has also changed regulations to enable restaurants, cafes and pubs to offer delivery and food takeaways without going through the normal planning process.

Catering: Coronavirus

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the Bangladesh Caterers Associationon how best to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the Bangladesh catering sector in the UK (1) while restrictions are in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) afterwards.

lord callanan: The Government has regular contact with the hospitality industry, and one of my Ministerial colleagues has spoken with the Bangladesh Caterers Association. The Department’s ministerial team will continue to engage with a variety of representatives from the sector to develop safe ways for the sector to reopen. We recognise the challenges the hospitality industry faces during this time, which is why we have been providing extensive support for businesses, including specific grants for the sector, as well as our furlough scheme which has been extended until October, 100% business rates holidays, and tens of billions of pounds’ worth of business loans and guarantees.

Hospitality Industry and Restaurants: Coronavirus

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have takento support the restaurant and hospitality sector asthe restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted.

lord callanan: The Government have engaged with hospitality businesses to discuss various issues around reopening, including financial issues. This Department’s ministerial team are in weekly contact with the industry.We have now published new guidance for pubs, restaurants, and bars which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19. This supports my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 June for their reopening from 4 July. The guidance was developed following consultation with representatives from the industry.The Government has also conducted a comprehensive review of the 2m social distancing rule and from 4 July, our advice is changing to state that people should either stay 2m apart or ‘1m plus’ – which is one metre plus mitigations.Where businesses need to operate at 1m to be viable they should do so, provided they put in place the appropriate mitigations.

Hospitality Industry and Retail Trade: Coronavirus

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that protective measures are in place for (1) staff, and (2) customers, in the retail and hospitality sectors; and how compliance with these measures will be monitored.

lord callanan: The Government announced (on 11 May) and updated (on 14 June) comprehensive guidance for shops and branches, which employers can deploy. We have also published (on 23 June) new guidance for close contact services and restaurants, pubs and bars. This supports my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement (on 23 June) for their reopening from 4 July where they can do so in a safe and COVID-secure way. Enforcement bodies, such as the Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities, have put measures in place to support the implementation of the safer workplaces guidance. Government will consider if a stronger approach is needed and will take appropriate action as necessary.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

USA: Riot Control Weapons

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures, if any, they are taking following the excessive use of force by authorities in the United States; and what plans they have to suspend exports of tear gas, rubber bullets and riot shields to that country.

baroness sugg: The violence we have seen in the US is clearly very alarming. Peaceful protest remains a vital part of a democratic society and people must be allowed to protest peacefully.We consider all our export applications thoroughly against a strict risk assessment framework and keep all licences under careful and continual review as standard.

Eritrea: Coronavirus and Malnutrition

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) of widespread starvation in Eritrea, in particular in Southern and Northern Red Sea regions, and (2) that COVID-19 has been used by the Eritrean regime to target Red Sea Afar people.

baroness sugg: We are concerned that the people of Eritrea are facing food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 and the desert locust outbreak have impacted existing humanitarian need as a result of lasting effects of war and climate change. Humanitarian and development programmes in Eritrea are being adapted to address current food security challenges. DFID funds life-saving activity in Eritrea, including providing £4m to UNICEF in 2019-20 to help treat malnutrition in under-fives and provide access to safe hygiene and sanitation services.We are also aware of reports that the Government of Eritrea is targeting the Red Sea Afar people during the COVID-19 pandemic. We raise our concerns about human rights in Eritrea with the Government at every opportunity, and we will continue to make clear that measures taken by them to tackle COVID-19 must be necessary, proportionate, time-bound, transparent and regularly reviewed. Eritrea remains a priority country for the FCO under our annual human rights reporting, and we will continue to monitor the situation there.

Department of Health and Social Care

Social Services

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks of the President of the Association of Directors of Social Services, that the recently published minutes of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies appear "to reinforce the impression that social care has been an afterthought – a secondary consideration after the NHS" and that "this cannot continue".

lord bethell: Throughout this pandemic, we have been determined to give both the National Health Service and social care everything they need to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.In February 2020, the first guidance for the social care sector was published. In March, we announced £1.6 billion funding for local government and £1.3 billion to go to the NHS and social care for discharge support. In April, we announced a further £1.6 billion for local government and our COVID-19: Our Action Plan for Adult Social Care. A copy of the Action Plan is attached.On 15 May, the Government published the Care Home Support package and an additional £600 million Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund. This represents the next phase of our response for care homes.We continue to work tirelessly with the care sector and public health experts to explore all measures possible to reduce transmission and save lives.



Adult Social Care Action Plan
(PDF Document, 284.73 KB)

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how long it will take, under the test and trace service, to trace people's contacts following a COVID-19 test; and what assessment they have made of whether this is quick enough to isolate people before infection spreads.

lord bethell: The Government launched its new NHS Test and Trace service on 28 May 2020.If someone experiences symptoms of COVID-19 and gets tested, systems are in place to ensure that the NHS Test and Trace service automatically receives information if their test result is positive. Providing NHS Test and Trace have contact details, such as email, text or landline, they will aim to contact people within 24 hours of receiving the test result. The more rapidly we can identify people who may have been at risk of infection and, if necessary, tell them to self-isolate, the more effectively we can reduce the R rate and the spread of the virus and maintain transmission at low levels.

Coronavirus: International Cooperation

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to sponsor virtual meetings of international foreign and health ministers to coordinate responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: We recognise the importance of international cooperation in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The United Kingdom convened a wide range of international leaders, Foreign and Health Ministers at the Global Vaccine Summit on 4 June. Ministers participate in regular dialogue including through the G7, G20, World Health Assembly and in ad hoc groupings convened by other partners – as well as initiating our own calls as required with specific partners.COVID-19 presents a global challenge which requires a collaborative response. The UK Government will continue to work with other countries throughout the crisis and beyond.

Coronavirus: Ethnic Groups

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that BAME people are adequately represented in COVID-19 clinical trials.

lord bethell: The Department, through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), is working in partnership with the Centre for Black and Minority Ethnic Health in Leicester to ensure that black, Asian and minority ethnic communities have the information they need to take part and stay informed about COVID-19 research. The NIHR also requires a limited amount of demographic data on participants in all prioritized urgent COVID-19 studies to be collected to ensure recruitment is representative of the population. It is also actively supporting researchers to tackle the barriers that might stop some communities participating.

Department for Education

Children: Disadvantaged

baroness morgan of huyton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet the needs of (1) vulnerable, and (2) disadvantaged, children during the summer holidays.

baroness morgan of huyton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to provide summer schemes for children, especially in areas with high levels of youth crime.

baroness berridge: Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, we know there is increased pressure on household budgets, and we recognise families will face particular challenges over the coming months. That is why we are providing additional funding for the Covid Summer Food Fund which will enable children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to be supported over the school holiday period. We will publish guidance shortly.The Holiday Activities and Food scheme are integral to our approach to provide support to children over the summer. It will ensure thousands of disadvantaged children have access to healthy meals and holiday activities in summer 2020, building on the success of the 2018 and 2019 programmes. We remain committed to supporting children and families through the disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.This government will always put the care and safety of vulnerable children first, especially at this time as they face unique challenges due to COVID-19. The £12 million package announced in April will support vulnerable children most at risk of neglect, violence or exploitation during the COVID-19 outbreak.More than £7 million will also fund the launch of the See, Hear, Respond service, to provide targeted help to vulnerable children, young people and their families affected by COVID-19 and the measures put in place to stop its spread. The coalition, led by Barnardo’s, will work alongside local authorities, schools and colleges, police forces, healthcare professionals and other vital services involved in protecting these children.

Education: Coronavirus

baroness morgan of huyton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to fund catch-up educational provision, especially for disadvantaged pupils, following the COVID-19 pandemic; and which team within the Department for Education will be working on this.

baroness berridge: So far, we have committed over £100 million to support remote education. As plans continue for a full return to education from September, we have announced a £1 billion COVID-19 “catch-up” package to directly tackle the impact of lost teaching time. £650 million will be shared across state primary and secondary schools over the 2020/21 academic year. This one-off grant to support pupils recognises that all young people have lost time in education as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, regardless of their income or background. Whilst school leaders will decide how it is used, the intention is that this money will be spent on the most effective interventions. On 19 June the Education Endowment Foundation published a guide to help school leaders and staff decide how to use this universal funding to best support their pupils, which is available here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-19_Resources/Covid-19_support_guide_for_schools.pdfSeparately, a National Tutoring Programme, worth £350 million, will increase access to high-quality tuition for the most disadvantaged young people. This will help accelerate their academic progress and tackle the attainment gap between them and their peers. This £1 billion package is on top of the £14.4 billion three-year funding settlement announced last year - recognising the additional work schools will need to do to help students to catch up.

Education: Coronavirus

baroness morgan of huyton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allocate extra funding for (1) mentors, (2) graduate tutors offering one-to-one tuition, and (3) other educational resources, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: We will do whatever we can to ensure no child, whatever their background or location, falls behind as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. So far, we have committed over £100 million to support remote education. We are providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, and to those receiving support from a social worker, including pre-school children, or and are a care leavers. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and disadvantaged children in year 10 do not have internet connections, we will be providing 4G wireless routers to them so that they can learn at home. We are also ensuring every school that needs it has access to free, expert technical support to get set up on Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education, and offering peer support through the EdTech Demonstrator schools programme - with leading schools and colleges helping others to make the best use of available technology to teach pupils remotely.As plans continue for a full return to education from September, we have announced a £1 billion COVD-19 “catch-up” package to directly tackle the impact of lost teaching time.£650 million will be shared across state primary and secondary schools over the 2020/21 academic year. This one-off grant to support pupils recognises that all young people have lost time in education as a result of the pandemic, regardless of their income or background.Whilst school leaders will decide how it is used, the intention is that this money will be spent on the most effective interventions. On 19 June the Education Endowment Foundation published a guide to help school leaders and staff decide how to use this universal funding to best support their pupils, which is available here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-19_Resources/Covid-19_support_guide_for_schools.pdf.Separately, a National Tutoring Programme, worth £350 million, will increase access to high-quality tuition for the most disadvantaged young people. This will help accelerate their academic progress and tackle the attainment gap between them and their peers. As well as announcing the biggest funding increase for schools in a decade, raising current levels by £14.4 billion over the next three years, we continue to pay schools quarterly additional funding worth £2.4 billion through the pupil premium to help them support their disadvantaged pupils. Since April 2020, pupil premium per-pupil rates are the highest ever.

Outdoor Education

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have for outdoor schooling during the summer.

baroness berridge: Current guidance states that schools should ‘consider which lessons or classroom activities could take place outdoors’ when planning.As plans continue for a full return to education from September, we have announced a £1 billion COVID-19 catch-up package to directly tackle the impact of lost teaching time.£650 million will be shared across state primary and secondary schools over the 2020/21 academic year. This one-off grant to support pupils recognises that all young people have lost time in education as a result of the pandemic, regardless of their income or background.This package will make sure that every young person, no matter their age or where they live, has the education, opportunities and outcomes they deserve. Head teachers will have discretion over how funding is spent and we strongly encourage them to base their decisions in evidence-led practice.On 19 June, the Education Endowment Foundation published a guide to help head teachers and teachers decide how to use this universal funding to best support their pupils, which can be found here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-19_Resources/Covid-19_support_guide_for_schools.pdf.The guide encourages headteachers to consider offering provision over the summer and signposts a guide to running summer schools, published by Teach First on 19 June, which offers practical advice and support for schools looking to run such provision this year. The guide can be accessed here: https://www.teachfirst.org.uk/shut-in-not-shut-out/school-resources.

Treasury

Pensions: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government how muchthey estimate they have spent on paying auto-enrolment pension contributions for furloughed workers during the COVID-19 pandemic; how many workers are having auto-enrolment pension contributions made for them by the Government as a result of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme; and what estimate they have made ofthe ongoing costs to the Exchequer of these pension contributions for the year 2020/21. [T]

lord agnew of oulton: Official Statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) were published on 11 June 2020 by HM Revenue and Customs. The statistics contain Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme claims by employer size, sector, region, Westminster parliamentary constituency and local authority. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has published estimates of the cost of the CJRS. These do not include separate estimates for the auto-enrolment pension contributions element of the scheme. The latest OBR estimates are available in the OBR’s coronavirus policy monitoring database, which can be found at on the OBR website. The Official Statistics on the Job Retention Scheme can be found on the gov.uk website.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Disability

lord shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manydisabled people have been furloughed as part of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, as (1) a number and, and (2) a proportion, of all employees furloughed under that Scheme. [T]

lord agnew of oulton: It is not possible to provide an answer to this question as HMRC do not require employers to inform HMRC if employees included in their RTI returns or a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme claim are disabled.

Department for Work and Pensions

Welfare Assistance Schemes: Coronavirus

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Children's SocietyLeave No Family Behind: Strengthening local welfare assistance during COVID-19, published in May, in particular in relation to the effectiveness of Local Welfare Assistance Schemes.

baroness stedman-scott: The Government has noted the report by the Children’s Society Leave No Family Behind.Local Authorities were provided with the notional sum of £131.7 million for local welfare assistance in 2020/21. In response to the COVID-19 emergency, significant action has been taken across Government to support those affected by coronavirus, including the most vulnerable. This support includes; income protection schemes, mortgage holidays and additional support for renters. For those most in need we’ve injected more than £6.5 billion into the welfare system, including an increase to Universal Credit of up to £1,040 this financial year.A further £3.2 billion has also been made available to local authorities, through an un-ring-fenced grant, so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The package recognises the additional costs and pressures councils are facing as a result of the current emergency. On June 10 the Prime Minister announced an additional £63 million for local authorities, to help those who are struggling financially due to the impact of COVID-19. Local authorities are working hard to support those who are vulnerable and this additional funding will allow them to quickly step in and provide discretionary financial help, for food and other necessities, to those facing severe hardship.

Universal Credit

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to restart checks on work-related conditionality requirements for Universal Credit claimants; and what factors will be considered when deciding to restart such checks.

baroness stedman-scott: We took the decision to temporarily suspend the requirement for face-to-face Jobcentre Plus appointments for all claimants in Universal Credit, New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), old-style JSA and ESA, and Income Support. Arrangements after the suspension will be communicated in due course.

Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of new claims for Universal Credit since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic have been unsuccessfull; and of those, what proportion were unsuccessful because of the incomeand capital rules; and what proportion of (1) successful, and (2) unsuccessful, claimants for Universal Credit in this period were eligible for contributory (a) Jobseeker's Allowance, and (b)Employment and Support Allowance.

baroness stedman-scott: The Department has been working to ensure we get support as quickly as possible to those individuals and households most financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It has been a longstanding principle of Universal Credit (UC) that an assessment of earnings, other income and capital is needed to establish eligibility to target support to those most in need. There may be several reasons why someone is not eligible to receive UC, will have received a nil award or withdrew their claim. Among other reasons, this includes: speculative claims which were subsequently withdrawn;found new employment (which may at present include being rehired under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or taken advantage of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme);redundancy payments affecting their entitlement;the last month’s salary taken account. The key principle of UC is that it’s calculated based on income, so if someone’s income from work drops, their UC payment will rise to top it up;their claim may have been found to be fraudulent; andIndividuals may have capital saved above the £16,000 limit for UC entitlement. Between 16 March and 3 May there were 1,875,000 declarations made to UC, all of which are processed. Of these: 70 per cent have received a UC payment;12 per cent had a nil award due to earnings;seven per cent were withdrawn by the claimant;one per cent closed due to ineligibility regarding capital rules;eight per cent closed due to other ineligibility reasons; andone per cent have outstanding verification preventing payment. Claimants move from existing benefits to UC when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to benefit. We do not centrally collate the number of claimants that have made a new claim to UC as a result of such a change in circumstances.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy and detailed programme on badger culling and other means of controlling tuberculosis in badgers over the next five years.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government remains committed to the goal of achieving Officially Free bovine TB status for the whole of England by 2038. On 5 March 2020, the Government published its response to Professor Sir Charles Godfray's 2018 review of England's bovine TB eradication strategy, setting out the priorities for the next phase of the strategy around three key priorities. We will provide funding to accelerate the research and trial work necessary to authorise the BCG vaccine for use in cattle alongside a test that can differentiate between vaccinated cattle and those with the disease. Our aim is to have a deployable cattle vaccine within the next five years. Vaccination will never provide full protection but could significantly reduce the spread of the disease both between cattle and between cattle herds and wildlife. The UK can harness its world-leading science in developing solutions such as vaccination that would also be valuable to other countries. Secondly, we will also begin an exit strategy from intensive badger culling, while ensuring that wildlife control remains an option where the epidemiological evidence supports it (i.e. areas where badgers pose a significant source of TB infection). We intend to pilot government-funded badger vaccination in at least one area where the four-year cull cycle has concluded, with simultaneous surveillance of disease. We envisage that any remaining areas would join the current cull programme in the next few years and that the badger cull phase of the strategy would then wind down by the mid to late 2020s. We will continue to support badger vaccination projects in areas where the prevalence of disease is low. We will also investigate the potential for projects where adjacent vaccination and culling could complement each other in controlling disease. Changes to our guidance to Natural England on licensing badger control will be subject to consultation. Thirdly, we will invest in the deployment of better, more frequent, and more diverse cattle testing, so that we are able to detect the presence of the disease earlier and remove it from cattle herds faster. The frequency of mandatory surveillance testing in two high risk area counties – Shropshire and Staffordshire – will increase from annual to six-monthly as soon as the COVID-19 situation allows. We expect this to be extended across the high risk area from 2021. There is no single answer to tackling the scourge of bovine TB but by deploying a range of policy interventions, we can turn the tide on this terrible disease and achieve our long-term objective of eradicating it by 2038.

Home Office

Deportation: Pakistan

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer fromBaroness Williams of Trafford on 26 May (HL4429), on what basis they are unable to comment on individual cases.

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possibility of deporting Abdul Aziz,Adil Khan and Qari Abdul Rauf from the UK; and if they have concluded that this is not possible, why not.

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether there are any connections between Abdul Aziz,Adil Khan and Qari Abdul Rauf and staff in the (1) Home Office, or (2) UK Visas and Immigration.

baroness williams of trafford: I refer the Right Honorable Lord to my answer of 26 May 2020 on this matter. The position still remains that I am unable to comment on individual cases on the grounds of data protection principles and operational independence of the police and courts.The Home Office will however always ensure that cases such as these are handled with extreme professionalism to ensure that decisions are lawfully made in the best interests of the British public.This Government makes clear that foreign criminals should be deported from the UK wherever it is legal and practical to do so. Foreign national offenders should be in no doubt of our determination to remove them, and since 2010 we have removed more than 53,000.Child sexual abuse is a devastating crime and we are committed to ensuring the protection of victims who have the courage to come forward to report abuse. The Home Office is in contact with the local Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) panel to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.We are also developing a first of its kind national Child Sexual Abuse Strategy which will set out our long-term ambition in tackling all forms of child sexual abuse, including how we will work across government, law enforcement, safeguarding partners and industry to root out offending, and protect and help victims and survivors to recover and rebuild their lives.

Metropolitan Police: Parliament Square

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with the Metropolitan Police Service about actions they are taking to protect the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square from (1) vandalism, (2) criminal damage, or (3) public disorder.

baroness williams of trafford: The right to protest peacefully is a long-standing tradition in this country and a vital foundation of our democracy. However, the Government continues to urge the public not to attend further protests. This is important to avoid the spread of coronavirus and the regulations we have in place to protect public health mean large gatherings of people are unlawful.The rights to peaceful protest do not extend to unlawful activity and the police have powers to deal with any such acts. How the police use these powers is an operational decision.

Visas: Married People

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that a temporary reduction in earnings due to the COVID-19 pandemic does not affect entitlement to afamily visa for a spouse or partner.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the situation closely and take these exceptional circumstances into account. To ensure a spouse or partner applying for entry clearance, leave to remain or indefinite leave are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control, for the purpose of the minimum income requirement:A temporary loss of employment income between 1 March and 31 July 2020 due to COVID-19, will be disregarded provided the requirement was met for at least six months up to March 2020.An applicant or sponsor furloughed under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be deemed as earning 100% of their salary.A temporary loss of annual income due to COVID-19 between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2020 will generally be disregarded for self-employment income, along with the impact on employment income from the same period for future applications. Income received via the Coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will also be taken into account.Evidential flexibility may be applied where an applicant or sponsor experiences difficulty accessing specified evidence due to COVID-19 restrictions.These concessions are set out for customers on GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents.The minimum income requirement can also be met in several ways in addition to or instead of income from employment or self-employment. For example, income from the couple’s investments, property rental or pension may also be taken into account, together with their cash savings.

Hate Crime: Travellers

baroness whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what account Sir Mark Rowley’s review of the adequacy of hate crime legislation will take of the incidents recorded by GateHerts against members of the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities.

baroness williams of trafford: The review is being conducted by Sir Mark Rowley on behalf of the Commission for Countering Extremism which is independent of the Home Office. The review aims to identify any gaps in existing legislation that may be used to tackle extremism and to make practical recommendations on changes to existing offences and powers.

Home Office: Staff

the lord bishop of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice and training they have given to Home Office caseworkers about (1) the right of abode in the UK, and (2) the level of discretion that caseworkers can use when dealing with Commonwealth Citizens who have resided for a long time in the UK, but who do not have correct documentation.

the lord bishop of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) gaps in national insurance records where the fault does not lie with the individual, and (2) whether Home Office caseworkers should be able to use discretion when dealing with Commonwealth Citizens, including those with right of abode, who have resided for a long time in the UK, but who do not have correct documentation.

baroness williams of trafford: Caseworkers considering right of abode applications are experienced and suitably trained.In February 2020, as part of the reinspection report into failed right of abode applications, the Independent Chief Inspector for Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) reviewed current training packs and materials used to train Right of Abode (RoA) caseworkers. The report can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/865201/ICIBI_Failed_RIght_of_Abode_Web_version.pdfParagraph 3.20 on page 7 of the report in particular states “According to the evidence provided for this reinspection, the numbers of RoA applications received each year are small, around 1,200; the trend is downwards; the refusal rate is low, 10 to 12% in the last two business years; guidance and SOPs are up-to-date; and, caseworkers are experienced and appear genuinely committed to providing good customer service.”Caseworkers have discretion when dealing with Commonwealth Citizens who have resided for a long time in the UK. The caseworker guidance can be found on gov.uk: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807365/windrush-scheme-casework-guidance-v3.0-ext.pdfPage 11 of the caseworker guidance states “You should recognise that people may not have documents that are over 30 years old and help people to build a picture of their life in the UK, using documentation and evidence provided, or that you can access through systems available to you, including through use of cross-departmental data sharing.”Furthermore, the guidance is clear on page 13 that caseworkers “must take a rounded view where evidence is not provided that proves matters of fact and decide the case on balance of probability, taking into account the picture of life in the UK, evidence in the round and criminality.”

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: Human Rights

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with UK trading partners about inserting human rights clauses into the text of future trade agreements.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The United Kingdom has a strong history of safeguarding rights and promoting our values globally. Our strong economic relationships with trading partners allow HM Government to have open discussions on a range of difficult issues, including rights and responsibilities. We continue to encourage all states to uphold international obligations.

Arms Trade: Licensing

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all arms and equipment licensed for export from the UK meet the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

lord grimstone of boscobel: All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade (DIT) receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.

Renewable Energy: Exports

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the renewable energy sector in exporting products and services.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The Department for International Trade (DIT) undertakes a range of promotion activities to support exports from the renewable energy sector, including those under the GREAT campaign, further information about which can be found on DIT’s website. Engagement with UK exporters forms part of the work of DIT’s sector teams – one of which specifically focuses on renewable energy technologies – as well as our international network of trade and investment advisors, with renewable energy and clean growth being key themes of work.Last year, for example, DIT worked closely with Taiwan, including by signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Taiwan, to open up offshore wind opportunities for UK companies. The offshore wind sector deal commits DIT and industry to increase offshore wind exports fivefold to £2.6 billion by 2030.DIT is developing a new UK Export Strategy with one of the key pillars being ‘clean growth’. Stakeholders will be consulted ahead of its launch later this year.

Music: Coronavirus

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that the UK music sector remains internationally competitive during, and after, the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The Department for International Trade consistently champions the British music industry and the incredible talent which makes the sector such a great success story for the UK.The Government has put in place unprecedented support for businesses and workers to protect them against the economic impact of COVID-19. In 2020/21, the Government is providing export support of around £1 million to UK music companies. Most of this is grant support offered to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK’s music sector through the International Showcase Fund and the Music Export Growth Scheme.During the pandemic, the Government has provided support for digital events so music companies can continue to do business with international customers. The Government is working closely with the Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board, which includes music representatives, to develop a creative industries ‘Bounce Back’ strategy which will enable the UK music sector to maintain its strong international position.

Developing Countries: Fossil Fuels

lord wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they give to policies for reducing the use of fossil fuels by 2050 when developing trading links with least developed countries.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The United Kingdom has long supported the promotion of our values globally, including ambitious global action to tackle climate change, and this will continue as an independent trading nation. We have already legislated to deliver net zero emissions in the United Kingdom, becoming the first major economy to do so.Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing our world. We are committed to upholding the United Kingdom’s high environmental standards and will consider the mechanisms available to us, including through our trading relationships with Least Developed Countries.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Music: Coronavirus

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what metrics they are using to assess whether (1) the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme, (2) the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, (3) the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, and (4) the Government’s fiscal response more generally, are protecting jobs and businesses in (a) sectors covered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and (b) the music sector.

baroness barran: DCMS has conducted a survey of businesses in relevant sectors. The survey aims to collect data on the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on respondents, and their engagement with the available government support packages, including CLBILS and CBILS. Results will be published in due course. DCMS is also working with other government departments to access and analyse administrative data on the use of government support packages where appropriate.

Theatre: Coronavirus

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future of English regional theatre following the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: This Government recognises how severely regional theatres, and the Arts sector in general, have been hit by the COVID-19 crisis. That is why, in order to support the sustainability of the Arts sector, including regional theatres, DCMS has worked closely with Arts Council England (ACE) to provide a tailored package of financial support. In March, ACE announced a £160m emergency response package to complement the financial measures already announced by the Government and to ensure immediate resilience of this vital sector. This package includes £140 million of support for artistic organisations including regional theatres; and £20 million of financial support for individuals, including self-employed theatre practitioners, so they can better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. On 23 June, the Prime Minister also announced that from 4 July theatres will be able to reopen for rehearsal, pre-production and broadcast, although not yet for live performance with an audience. I believe that this, alongside the work that we are doing with representatives of the entertainment and events industry to develop supporting guidance, represents the first steps in the roadmap to recovery for our nations’ theatres. The Secretary of State, Minister for Digital and Culture, and officials continue to consult the Arts sector extensively to ensure we fully understand the financial impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the sector. On the basis of that engagement, DCMS and ACE are continuing to work closely to consider the additional measures that are needed to ensure the long-term recovery and growth of the cultural sector, including regional theatres and theatre practitioners.

Covid-19 Recreation and Leisure Taskforce

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government why there is no representation from local government onthe COVID-19 taskforce on Recreation and Leisure.

baroness barran: The Cultural Renewal Taskforce has been established to support the renewal of DCMS sectors and to help the development of new COVID-19 secure guidelines for the reopening of places and businesses in these sectors, where and when it is safe to do so. The Taskforce is made up of individuals and organisations from across DCMS sectors, presenting a broad range of views and backgrounds. The organisations vary not only by size and scale, but are also representative of organisations with sector interests across the country. To support the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the development of guidelines, DCMS has also set up eight sectoral Working Groups, which are ministerially led. While there are a limited number of members of the Cultural Renewal Taskforce, each Working Group has broad membership covering a range of relevant organisations and representative bodies for relevant sectors. The Local Government Association directly represents local government as a member of the Working Groups for Museums and Galleries, Library Services, Sport and Youth.

Public Sector: Artificial Intelligence

lord holmes of richmond: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to put the guidance contained withinA guide to using artificial intelligence in the public sector, published on 27 January, on a statutory footing. [T]

baroness barran: Since the publication of the AI Guide, we have committed to updating and improving the guidance in order to support the public sector's adoption of AI and data technologies. This includes considering how best to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI and data technologies, including statutory or non-statutory mechanisms.